Phoenix police ID officer who fatally shot man in alley

Phoenix police were at the scene of an officer-involved shooting that left one person dead near Third Street and Culver Avenue, near Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix.(Photo: Marcella Baietto/The Republic)

Phoenix police have identified the officer who shot and killed a 43-year-old man in a downtown Phoenix alley on Nov. 10.

Officer Alan Bansky shot and killed Thomas Aikens during a confrontation in the alley at Third Avenue and Culver Street, near Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix, just before 2 p.m., police said.

Aikens was holding a knife against a woman's throat and then charged at responding officers, said Phoenix police ​Sgt. Alan Pfohl.

Aikens also told police he was sitting on a bomb, Pfohl said.

When officers attempted to move the woman away from Aikens, they realized Aikens had wrapped a chain around her waist so that she was unable to get away, police said.